Floor-clamp



No. 608,458. Patented Aug. 2., |898.

. E. C. INGERSDLL.

FLOOR CLAMP.

(Application led July 1, 1897.)

(No Model.)

A T'OHNE YS.

UNITED: STATES PATENT EETCE.

EDWIN C. INGERSOLL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLOOR-CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersratent No. 608,458, dated August 2, 1898.

rapiti-,atm fuearuiy 1. 1897. sin-tura. 643,115. (Nomad.)

T0 ctZZ whom t may concern:

.Be it known that I, EDWINC. INeERsoLL, of Philadelphia, in the county of' Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Floor-Clamp, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved floor-clamp which is simple and durable in construction and more especially designed for the use of carpenters to conveniently force a loose floor-board in engagement with the one already fastened to the joist to facilitate nailing the board in place.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a plan view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the improvement, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of part of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

The improved door-.clamp is mounted on a suitably-constructed frame A, having a downwardly-extending flange B,preferably toothed at one face toengage one side of a joist C or other support on which the licor-boards are fastened. A jaw D is vadapted to engage the opposite side. of the joist V(J directly opposite the forwardend of the fiange B, as is plainly shown in Fig. l, and this jaw D depends from a lever D', fulcrumed at D2 on the frame A, the handle end of the lever carrying a springpressed pawl D3, adapted to engage one of a series of teeth in a toothed segment E, eX- tending onthe frame A and forming an integral part therewith. The lever D is also provided on its under side-with a lever-guide D4, engaging a segmental recess or shoulder E on the underside of the toothed segment E, so as to hold the lever D in proper position and against up-and-down movement. 1

NOW it Will be seen that when the frame A is placed in position on the joist C, with the toothed flange B resting on one side thereof, then the frame can be clamped in place by swinging the lever D' to the right in the direction of the arrow a to cause the jaw D to move in firm contact with the other side of the joist, the main portion of the frame resting on the top of the joist, as indicated in Fig. l. In moving the lever D as indicated the pawl D2 will snap into one of the teeth oi' the segment E, so as to lock the lever D and the jaw in place when the frame A is clamped in position on the joist C.

The frame A is provided with a guideway A', in Which is fitted to slide a presser-foot bar F, on the outer end of which is pivoted a of, as is plainly indicated in Fig. l, and slightly at one side of the joist C, so that the presserfoot is not in the Way when drivin the nails through the board H into the j oist C to fasten the board to the joist. rlhe bar F is formed With an offset F' in alinement with the presserfoot G and riding on the peripheral surface of a spiral camI, mounted to turn on a stud J, carried by the frame A.

A handle K is secured on they top face of the cam I and is adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to turn the spiral cam I in the direction of the arrow b to cause the bar F to slide outward, so as to move the presserfoot G iirst in contact with the board H and then move the board along and finally force it in engagement With the iiXed board H2. The return or inner movement of the presserfoot G and the bar F is obtained bya spring F2, arranged in the frame A and connected with the bar4 F as is plainly indicated in Fig. 3. Thus when the arm K is turned in the inverse direction of the arrow b the shoulder F' is held in peripheral contact with the cam I by the action of the said spring F2.

In starting the device the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, with the shoulder F' of the bar F at the innermost part of the cam-surface of the spiral cam I and with the arm K extending parallel with the said bar. Now it is evident that when the handle K is swung around to cause'the cam I to move the presser-foot G and the IOO board ll, as above described, the said handle moves away vfrom the hoard li to give free access to that part of the beard resting` directly on the joist C and allonv ofconveniently,v driving the nails, as above mentioned, to Vasten the board ll in place and alter it is forced in contact with the board ll?. Yfhen this has heen donc, the operator returns the handle l to its former position and presses on the finger-piece of the pawl l); te release the lever 1)' and to permit of moving,` th same in the inverse direction of the arrow u' to unlock the frame Yfrom the joist C. The device can new be placed on another joist, and the above-described operation is repeated.

lt will be seen that the device is very simple and durable in Construction, is not liable to get out of. order, and is easily placed in position and manipulated for the purpose mentioned.

llaving thus fully described in v invention, l claim as new and desire to secure b vlielters Patent* l. A lloor-clamp comprising a [rame havinit;` a downwardly-extending llange toothed at one lace and adapted to engage one side of a ioist or like support, a lever fulcrumed on the frame and carrying,r a dependingg1 jaar at one end, the said javv being adapted to engage the opposite side of the joist at a point opposite the forward end of the said toothed llange, the said lever carrying` a spring-pawl near the other end, a segmentlforming an in* tcgral lateral extension of the said frame and provided with teeth on its upper taco for enV @aging the said pan'l, the said lever being provided on its under face with a guide engaging a segmental recess on the under side ol the toothed segment whereby the lever is held against up -anddown movement, the said frame being provided with a guideway and a bar carrying a presser-foot and adapted to slide in said guideway, the said guidevvay being located at the outer side of the toothed flange and parallel therewith, Whereby the presser-foot engages the board to be nailed at one side of the joist, as and for the purpose set forth.

A lloor-clamp comprising a frame having; a downWardly-extending offset member, a lever fulcrumed on the frame and provided at one end with a jaw projecting into the plane of the offset member to eoact with the latter in clamping the device in place, a spring-pressed pawl carried by the opposite or handle end of the lever, the said frame being provided with a laterally-extending segment provided with teeth on its upper iaee adapted to be engaged bythe said pawl, the said toothed segment beingprovided with .a guideway formed 0n its under face and adapted to be engaged bya guide on the said lever, and moans carried by the frame for exerting pressure on the ll(lering-boards, subsiantiall)v as described.

E DVIN C. ING ERSOLT..

Witnessesz Vitamins A. Saivnnns, Zrrvo (l, (lern. 

